Discover Cappadocia

3 days/2 nights

Underground Cities: One way in which man capitalized on Cappadocia’ natural resources was by building underground cities. In order to escape persecution from invading Roman armies during the 17th century, the Christians of the region built complete underground cities, some extending as deep as 14 stories, where they were able to live for months at a time undetected. So well hidden that they weren’t discovered until the 1960’s. Among the most famous and well excavated are Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı.

Goreme Open Air Museum, Cappadoci

The entrance to Derinkuyu is very close to the present day city. Meant obviously for escape from immediate danger for shorter term stays, it is less comfort oriented than Kaymaklı whose chambers boast wine cellars, supply areas, chapels, stables and tombs.
Goreme: The tuff of region was not only utilized as physical shelters, but also spiritual. The valley of Goreme is known for its proliferation of churches carved into the rock of the region. Built between the 7th and 13th centuries at its height Goreme is said to have had a church for everyday of the year. It is not just the use of the stone, which is so fascinating, but the interior designs. Vividly preserved during the ensuing centuries, the original frescoes celebrate the beliefs of the early Christians. The only light that permeates the churches is the natural light, which filters through the entrance. From afar looking only like the shells of vacant windows staring out from the rock of the hillside, most of the churches are quite small. The dominant layout of the interior chambers is based on a cruciform design.

I – CAPPADOCIA

Day 01Kayseri – Cappadocia (49 miles – 78 km)
Arrival in Kayseri. Meet and assist at the airport, board the coach and drive to Cappadocia. Your first encounter with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia’s rock formations beyond belief is in Devrent valley. Visit to Pasabag “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”. After lunch, Lunch in Avanos the center of terra cotta, work of art since 3000 BC, and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, visit the famous Göreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Climb on top of the Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. L, D

Day 02Cappadocia
Buffet breakfast. Full day tour of Cappadocia, beginning with a drive to “Derinkuyu, the Underground City”.

Mausoleum of Ataturk, Ankara

An extremely elaborate underground city, consisting of seven layers, rooms for grain storage, the sheltering of animals, wine cellars and housing almost all necessities of rural life. Continue to Kizilcukur Valley and Cavusin. After lunch, visit t the Ortahisar Valley prior to returning to the hotel. Evening at leisure. B, L, D

Day 03Cappadocia – Kayseri – Istanbul (49 miles – 78 km)
Buffet breakfast. En-route to Kayseri, in Sinasos, a town where each house is painted and has their own stone-sculptured balcony and windows; then onto Keslik Monastery. Continue driving through the scenic and mysterious Valley of Soganlý…you arrive at the airport. B, L

II – CAPPADOCIA

Day 01Istanbul – Ankara – Cappadocia(172 miles – 276 km.)
Arrive in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Today, visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, filled with priceless collections from the prehistoric era, and the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of Modern Turkey. After lunch in Ankara, drive to the fairy tale region of Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. L, D

Day 02Cappadocia
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Your full-day tour includes the wonderful Devrent Valley, where the elements have eroded the stone into peaks, cones and obelisks called fairy chimneys. Pasabag, the three-capped chimney in the middle of valley was the retreat to the monk Simeon.

Citadel of Uchisar, Cappadocia

Visit Avanos and experience pottery making. After Lunch, drive to Göreme National Park an open-air museum with its Byzantine churches carved into cliffs with its colorful frescoes dating back to the 7th century. Continuing along, you will also visit the Citadel of Uchisar and Guvercinlik Valley, also known as, Pigeon Valley for the “hundreds of holes” perforating the rock face and whose droppings provided valuable fertilizer to neighboring farmers. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. B, L, D

Day 03Cappadocia – Kayseri – Istanbul
Buffet breakfast. Full day tour of Cappadocia, beginning with a drive to “Derinkuyu, the Underground City”. An elaborate underground city, consisting of seven layers, rooms for grain storage, the sheltering of animals, wine cellars and housing almost all necessities of rural life. Continue to Kizilcukur Valley and Cavusin. Lunch en-route. In the afternoon visit the Ortahisar Valley prior to arriving at Kayseri airport B, L

B – BreakfastL – LunchD – Dinner

TOUR FEATURES – CAPPADOCIA I & II

Roundtrip transfers to and from airports in Cappadocia

English speaking guide throughout tour

2 nights hotel accommodation in your choice of hotels based on double occupancy

Daily buffet breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners

Luggage handling at the airport & hotel

Service charge, hotel taxes and gratuities at the hotel

TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE – CAPPADOCIA I & II

Domestic flights

Personal expenses.

Lunches and dinners not mentioned in the itinerary.

Drinks at meals.

Tips to the guide and driver.

OPTIONAL TOUR FROM CAPPADOCIA

HOT AIR BALLOONING $ 190.00 per person

Depending on weather conditions, in the early morning before sunrise, transfer to the meeting point for the tour with Hot-air balloons. What a great way of visiting the land of the Fairy Chimneys. Diplomas will be given to all ballooners. Return to the hotel. It is recommended to bring warm clothing, good walking shoes, camera and film.